Shelf



April 1953 J. T. SHIELDS 2,634,867

SHELF Filed Aug. 3. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORJ .Jdmv T SHIELDS,

H:FTORNEY.

' J. T. SHIELDS April 14, 1953 SHELF 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5. 1949 ON ll:- v o o o o o o QNN INvEN TOR) T 51415 Los,

m fireman.

JOHN JBYW April 14, 1953 J. T. SHIELDS 2,634,867

SHELF Filed Aug. 5, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 He. II.

INvENTOR, JOHN T SHIELDS) W 0. m fl TTORNEY. I

Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHELF John T. Shields, Bedford, Ind.

Application August 3, 1949, Serial No. 108,335

3-0laims. 1

This invention relates to a shelf and a method of forming the shelf as is commonly used in refrigerators, cook stoves and ranges, and numerous other appliances and displays. The invention relates particularly to a shelf made primarily of an outer substantially rigid boundary frame with a plurality of spaced wires extending across from one side to the other of the frame. A considerable problem arises in fixing the cross wires or rods rigidly in position in such manner that they will not be readily displaced, and moreover will not corrode or show rust or iron discoloration at their junctures with the frame member. Aluminum cross wires have been oommonly employed heretofore, and the ends thereof swaged in order to secure them tightly to the frame work. It is desirable to use such materials as stainless steel which does not have the tendency of discoloring except where it may be welded to the frame. It has been found that the use of such material in the cross wires where the welding process is employed to secure the ends of those wires to the frame results in discoloration of the metal at the weld point, so much so that rust streaks will appear and in fact run down the inside wall of the refrigerator from those types of joints.

By reason of my invention, I am able to provide a shelf structure having no welds whatsoever, and requiring no swaging or riveting of the ends of the cross bars. Aluminum, or aluminum alloy frames and rods may also be used because of the absence of any necessity to swage or weld together the several parts. Moreover by use of my invention, I can employ stainless steel throughout the entire tray structure. The length of .the cross wires or rods may vary somewhat, and yet every rod will be securely held in its fixed position so that it will not loosen or rattle under vibration when the tray is in actual usage.

Moreover the invention provides a unique method of securing the central portions of the wires to intermediate support members of the frame itself without riveting or without welding.

A still further important part of the invention resides in the means for interconnecting portions of the frame securely one to the other in order to hold the wires or rods as above indicated, but still in the absence of having to weld or rivet those frame sections together.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of the invention made in reference to the drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 is a view in top plan of a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a view in bottom plan of one end por-' tion of the shelf as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a detail in plan view of a blank sectional length of a frame member employed intermediate the outside boundary frame portions;

Fig. 4, a View in top plan of a sectional length of a blank from which the outer boundary frame member isformed;

Fig. 5, a view in top plan and partial horizontal section through the juncture of an end frame and intermediate wire support connection;

Fig. '6, a section through the intermediate wire support on the line v -'6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. "7, a bottom plan view of one end portion of a shelf embodying a modified form of frame and intermediate support "bar construction;

Fig. 8, a detail in vertical section on an en larged scale through the outer boundary frame member and an intermediate wire support;

Fig. 9, a transverse section on the line 9-9 inFig.1;

Fig. 10, a transverse section similar to that shown .in Fig. 9., but taken through the modifiedthe number IS on the one side and H on the opposite side. Furthermore, the strip is punched through regularly by forming the holes It, to

one side of the longitudinal center line. The blank is then shaped into tubular form to have the edges l9 :and 20 come around and abut one another so as to form a continuous tubular length, the edges l9 and 20 being left in abutment only without being welded or otherwise.

secured one to the other. The notches l6 and H leave the openings M, Fig. 2. The tubular form is designated generally by the numeral .22.

For a rectangular shelf, the length of tubing 22 has end portions '23 and .24 bent around to extend at right angles through radius portions The legs 2.3 and 24 thus turned from the major longitudinal length of the tube 22 are placed in that direction to have the holes 48 lined along the upper por 25 and .26 respectively, Fig. 1.

length l3, Fig. 3 is provided with edge notches 29 and 30 laterally opposite one another and spaced in pairs along the strip. Centrally of the blanks, there is punched a pluralityoffigure 8 apertures 3i centered on transverse lines and also centered on the central longitudinal line across the strip. The blank strip l3 thus formed is formed into tubular shape to bring the edges 32 and as into abutmenfland to have the apertures 3| on the top side of the tube with the notches 29 and 33 registering by their longitudinal marginal ends so as to form the openings 33 in spaced relation along the under side. The finished member, now in tubular form is generally designated by the numeral 35. This member 35 forms a transverse support for the individual wires or rods 38. While any number desired of these transverse supports 35 may be employed, only one is shown inthe present form, Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 9.

A unique interconnector between the transverse support member 35 and the ends of the legs 23, 21, and 24, 28, is provided. Referring to Fig. 5, this connector is best illustrated and consists of a length of a cylindrical rod 31 having annular grooves 38 and 39 provided therearound adjacent the ends of the rod. One side of the rod 31 is recessed to receive the end 39 of a second rod 40 and is centrally bored transversely through to receive the pin portion 4| extending integrally from the end of the rod 40 a sufiicient distance so that it may be riveted over to form the head 42 on the opposite side of the rod 31 and thereby secure the rod 40 rigidly in position at right angles to the rod 31. This rod 40 is provided with an annular groove 43 therearound adjacent the portion 39, and is further provided with a transverse groove or slot 44 across its top side. Two of these connector assemblies are employed when there is but the one cross support member 35.

The member 35 receives in its opposite ends one of the rods 40, and then in each instance the legs as for example in Fig. 5, 24, and 28 are telescoped over the opposite ends of the rod 37 to permit those ends of the legs 24 and 28 to abut one another around the outsideof the rod 3?. As indicated in Fig. 5, the inside of the adjacent abutting portions of these legs 24 and 28 are cut away to receive the end portion 39 of the rod 40 therethrough. The end of the crossmemher or rod 35 is pushed along the rod 40 to come into abutment by its end with the adjacentend portions of these legs 24 and 28 as indicated in Fig.5.

However before the legs23, 21 and 24, 28 are assembled on the opposite ends of the rod 31 in each instance, the wires 36 are first inserted by their ends through therespective. holes IS in the longitudinal portions 22 and 22a, of .the frame member sections.

Attention is now directed to Fi .9, wherein.

a wire 36 is shown in its final assembled position in relation to the frame portions 22 and 22a.

4 length, in a straight line condition. The end portions in each instance are turned downwardly and outwardly at the bends 45 and 47 to extend normally at forty-five degree angles from the longitudinal center line of the major length of the wire 36. The over-all length of these wires 35 is intended to be exactly the same, but in practice, there will be some variation.

Before the legs 23, 27 and 24, 28, are brought into abutment as above indicated, the ends 48 and 49 of the wires 36 are threaded through the holes IS in the frame sections 22 and 22a, the

' wires 36 being passed over the top side of the intermediate support member 35.

' abutment on the connector rods 31. In so doing.

the length of the wires 36 are made to be such in any event regardless of variations therein, to have the outer ends 48 and 49 come into abutment with the inside wall of the members 22 and 22a in each instance as best indicated in Fig.

I 9. As these two members are forced together of the member 35.

formed that when the member 35 is in its tubular,

to bring their respective legs into abutment, these wires 36 will tend to bow into the shape as indicated by the dash lines to that position designated by the numeral 36a.

With the abutting ends of the legs 23, 21 and 24, 28 held in contact one with the other, the end portions of those legs are 'swaged or struck to form the indentations on opposite sides designated by the numerals 50 and 5! to force the:

tubular metal into the annular groove 38 and also to form the indentations designated by the numerals 52 and 53 to force the metal of the.

other leg into the annular groove 39. These are indentations formed from opposite sides of the respective legs.

With the outer boundary frames so formed,

and in effect rigidly interconnected to form a single unit in the absence of welding or riveting,

the wires 35 are then forced downwardly from the position 33a into the fixed line position, Fig. 9, to carry those wires across the apertures 3| These apertures 3| are so shape, the wire 36 in each instance will drop across those apertures to have the top side of the wire 36 at an elevation a trifle above the top side of the member 35, and then at the same 'time when these wires 35 are pressed downwardly, the upturned lips 58 and 59 on opposite sides of the wire 36 are forced inwardly and against the sides of the wires 35 to press the wire.

35 downwardly and hold it securely in fixed position in relation to the member 35.

ward forcing of the wires 36 deforms the wires in each instance at their bends 46 and 41 so that in every case, the wire 33 is brought into a common plane in respect to its uppermost side. As the bends 45 and 41 are deformed by pressing the wire 36 down in each instance, the extreme ends of the portions 48 and 49 remain in contact with the inside wall of the frame portions 22 and 22a so that there can be no end travel at is to be noted that each end of the'wire 35 in all "any time of the wire 36 in respect to the longi'--- tudinal length between those bends 46 and 41.

Additional indentations such as M and 54, Fig. 1, may be employed for further This down- Thus by holding the wires 36 down on the transverse member 35, the wires 36 through their bends 35 and 41, and their constant end abutment with the inside face of the tubular portions 22 and 22a are fixed against any possible movement, and remain in snug and tight relation throughout the life of the tray.

The openings 34 in the cross support member 35, and also the openings 21 in the members 22 and 22:: are provided to permit access of fluids to the inside of these tubular members, as well as drainage of fluids therefrom. This is done primarily on account of the fact that in the forming of these members 22, 22a, and 35, particles of the steel forming tools will be abraded into the chrome surface of the so-called strainless steel. If they are allowed to remain, these particles of iron will rust and thus discolor the members. Therefore it is desirable to remove such particles, and this is done by the reverse electro-plating process. The plating solution is allowed to enter and flow through these openings 2| and 3:3 freely for that purpose. Furthermore after the shelf is in actual usage, and it is to be washed, the washing solution or compound may enter and drain through these holes.

Referring to the form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, and 10, 11, the primary difference resides in the fact that instead of employing an outer tubular frame and also tubular intermediate cross supports, I employ a channel generally U-shaped. Referring to Fig. '7, there is indicated a side frame member Gil having the leg turned at right angles therefrom with the intervening radial portion 62. The open side of the member so is positioned downwardly so that the upper side which may be flat, but shown more or less rounded in this particular instance may be on the upper, used side of the tray.

Also in this modified form, there are shown two intermediate wire support cross channel members 63 and 64. The leg 6| is shown, Fig. 7, as extending down to an end 65. The opposite side channel 66 is provided with a short leg 6'] to have its end 68 come into abutment with that end 65. Both the intermediate support members 63 and G4 are interconnected with the end portions of the channel Bil and 66 by the interconnecting Ts 69 and m of exactly the same construction as illustrated in Fig. 5 in the first form described, and as employed in the tubular frame sections. I

In the open channel section frame construction, the ends of the intermediate support members B3 and 64 are rolled into tubular form as at II and 78 respectively to telescope over the rods 40 of the connectors. In like manner, the leg 6| is rolled into tubular form to surround the rod 31. The end portion of the member 83 is struck as at T3 and the leg 6| is struck at the two positions 74 and. 15. Continuing, the end portion of the leg BI is rolled into tubular form 16 to surround one end of the rod 31 and the end portion of the leg 61 is rolled into the portion 11 to surround the other end of the rod 31 at that connection, while the end of the member 64 is likewise formed into the tubular end 18 to surround the rod 40, these various ends being struck as at I9, 80, and 8|, respectively.

Referring to Fig. 8, and also to Fig. 10, the wires 36 have their ends as and 49 inserted primarily within the channels 60 and 66 to have the extreme ends thereof abut the outer vertical wall of those channels. Then the wires 36 are bers 63 .and 64, .and then the wires are held their common planar positions by pressing the lips 83 on each :side of the wires 36 in :each instance against and down 1011130 the wires 36 .so as to retain them in the straight line positions.

Thus it is to be seen that. by following the method described,.a very rigid, durable, and noncorrosive structure is produced. Every individ ual element entering into'the constructionrsis held rigidly in place so that under vibration and even rough usage, those members will tend :to

remain in rigid contact one with the father, or in respect to the wires, will remain under tension so as to maintain their tight and rigid interconnections with the various elements support-: ing the wires.

Therefore while I have described "the invention in the forms above indicated. it is obvious that structural variations may be employedall without departing from the spirit of the inven-' tion, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to those precise forms beyond the limitations.

which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A wire shelf comprising an outer boundary frame composed of joined side and end members each having internally spaced apart relatively inner and outer walls, each side member having spaced apart holes therealong through said inner wall at upper portions thereof; a plurality of filler wires with major straight lengths and each wire having end lengths turned downwardly and outwardly through bends in straight lines at angles of substantially forty-five degrees from the wire; said wire end lengths extending through said side member holes downwardly within side members into abutment by their extreme ends with said outer walls of the side members at lower elevations than that of said holes to space said bends outside of but adjacent said holes; the overall effective length of each of said wires between the extreme outer ends of said end lengths normally exceeding the spacing apart of said side member outer walls, setting up by abutment thereagainst a compressive stress longitudinally of said wires tending to increase said angles and carry said end length ends downwardly of and in compressive contact with said side member outer wall; and means carried by said frame intermediate said side members retaining said wires each in a substantially straight line shape.

2. A wire shelf comprising an outer boundary frame composed of joined side and end members each having internally spaced apart relatively inner and outer walls, each side member having spaced part holes therealong through said inner wall at upper portions thereof; a plurality of filler wires with major straight lengths and each wire having end lengths turned downwardly and outwardly through bends in straight lines at angles of substantially forty-five degrees from the wire; said wire end lengths extending through said side member holes downwardly within side members into abutment by their extreme ends with said outer walls of the side members at lower elevations than that of said holes to space said bends outside of but adjacent said holes; the overall effective length of each of said wires between the extreme outer ends of said end 7 lengths normally exceeding the spacing apart of said side member outer walls, setting up by abutment thereagainst a compressive stress longitudinally of said wires tending to increase said angles and carry said end length ends downwardly of and in compressive contact with said side member outer wall; and means carried by said frame intermediate said side members retaining said wires each in a substantially straight line shape; said frame side members being U- shaped in cross-section open from the under side. 3. A wire shelf comprising an outer boundary frame composed of joined side and end members each having internally spaced apart relatively inner and outer walls, each side member having spaced apart holes therealong; through said inner wall at upper portions thereof; a plurality of filler wires with major straight lengths and each wire having end lengths turned downwardly and outwardly through bends in straight lines at angles of substantially forty-five degrees from the wire; said wire end lengths extending through said side member holes downwardly within side members into abutment by their extreme ends with said outer walls of the side members at lower elevations than that of said holes to space said bends outside of but adjacent said holes; the overall efiectlve length of each of said wires between the extreme outer ends of said end lengths normally exceeding the spacing apart of said side member outer walls, setting up by abutment thereagainst a compressive stress longitudinally of said wires tending to increase said angles and carry said end length ends downwardly of and in compressive contact with said side member outer wall; and means carried by said frame intermediate said side members retaining said wires each in a substantially straight line shape; said frame side members being circular in cross section; and said wire end lengths abutting by their ends said frame side member outer wall, said lengths extending substantially diametrically from said holes diagonally downwardly within the side members.

JOHN T. SHIELDS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 571,575 Norwood Nov. 17, 1896 707,983 Taylor Aug. 26, 1902 1,143,655 Sommer June 22, 1915 1,460,928 Tilden July 3, 1923 1,567,446 McClure Dec. 29, 1925 1,641,523 Bell Sept. 6, 1927 2,109,724 Genebach Mar. 1, 1938 2,110,726 Harvey Mar. 8, 1938 2,198,964 Goodyear Apr. 30, 1940 2,274,125 Carney Feb. 24, 1942 2,309,212 Reeves Jan. 26, 1943 2,312,015 Weber Feb. 23, 1943 

